Summer projects...

Summer is in full swing and I've been trying to get some things done here before the real heat sets in!!

First, my mom is redoing some of the pictures that are up in her house and is now going to have a "grandkid" wall. So we needed to take a nice recent picture of the kids. On Sunday morning we headed out front to take our shots.



We also started swimming lessons. Bud and Emma are both in the same class and have been doing a good job. I think they've both improved a lot and I hope that more swimming throughout the rest of the summer will progress them even further. Mo gets to play in the wading pool during their lessons and is enjoying some water time.





I've also been working on a few projects myself. For sewing, I finished a blanket for the new little man and used a piece of the extra fabric to make a small "changing pad". I sewed a piece of shower curtain (they have them at the dollartree!) in the middle to make it "leak proof"!!

I've also been trying out more "applique". I found some terry cloth at Walmart and thought I'd give bibs a try. I'm very happy with how these turned out:


My latest project is on that I've been wanting to get done for a while. I apologize for those that were interested in doing it with me. I decided to start it and just couldn't stop! I'm very happy with how or "tree hands" turned out and the kids had a lot of fun helping get them put together. I decided to add their names in vinyl and a quote above to tie it all together.



(Them empty frame will get filled in August when our little guy joins the family)
Here's where you can find the original idea and instructions: At Second Street
I used flat canvas that came in a pack of 3 from Joanns (don't forget our 40% coupon). I painted them tan. I used 3 different green fabrics for the leaves and a brown one for the hands. It all got modge podged down and sat overnight to dry. I purchased frames at Walmart and took the glass out.

Yesterday I found another neat project that I think I might have to try. Have you every done any quilling? I haven't, but this looks so neat!! What an awesome gift it would make!
Check it out here: Craftasical

Daddy's Day

Happy Father's day to all you dad's out there!
My kids have a wonderful Daddy! I couldn't ask for more.

Puzzled & Dunked

Mo has really gotten into doing puzzles lately. I decided we needed to increase our selection and we headed over to the Dollartree. If you need kids puzzles the Dollartree is the place to go. When we got home we had to break some of the new ones out.

Mo still needs some help, but is doing really well.



Here are the finished products:



In other family events Nate got voted in the top 5 at work employee appreciation. Basically you paid a quarter for each vote to go toward the work Christmas party. The kicker was, the top 5 got to go in a dunk tank! The kids were super exited to go and watch.

Each of them got to dunk daddy!

N8 actually didn't mind it at all:

Sewing projects for the new little man...

So I'm feeling like I'm in the home stretch of pregnancy (about 10 weeks to go) and am finally getting to some of the sewing projects that I planned to do. I've made many carseat covers, but I still hadn't made one for myself. A few weeks ago I went down to Lancaster and picked out some fun fabric and this week I finally got around to making it. I made one minor change from the previous covers I have made-snaps!!

My first efforts resulted in a minor snafu! I put my two tabs on opposite of each other!

But with quick use of my seam ripper the problem was remedied!

Here's the final product:

I also made matching/coordinating burp clothes, binky clips & a onesie tie!


I'm really happy with how they all turned out and now will move onto some other projects I have in mind!!

One last image to share. Our two kitties Pichi & Paccha are funny. N8 snapped this picture the other night of the two of them snuggled up with each other!!

Family time...

This past week I got to go and spend some time with my family. N8 with the help of Kim and some other friends watched the kids. It was strange to go without them, but it was what was best. With two nieces graduating from high school, I went to stay with my mom so my dad could attend. My mom is doing really well and getting stronger everyday. Hopefully this will help since she will begin chemotherapy soon.

While I was there, my assigned project was to organize my parents mission pictures and create a slideshow. My mom and I got right to work. Unfortunately, we were using a VERY SLOW computer. This made the process very slow, but it did get done!!! It was great getting to sit with my mom and go through all of their mission pictures and create the slideshow. They have have a 35 minute slideshow set to music of their last 18 months as missionaries. We made copies for each of us kids, now I need to sit down with N8 and the kids and watch it and tell them about all the neat things Grandpa & Grandma did while serving.

Here are some of my favorites (it's hard to narrow it down):

They are both more than happy to talk to any senior couple thinking about serving a mission. They tell it like it is-the good and the bad. If you know of someone interested, they'd even put in word for them to go to their mission-The West Indies. Their mission is acquiring Barbados and need a new couple there and are always wanting more senior missionaries to help in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

On Saturday both of my brothers and one of my sisters families came and we grilled and visited. I hadn't seen then since New Years. It was fun to visit and some of the kids enjoyed cooling off outside in some water!

On Sunday my mom felt well enough to attend sacrament meeting. This meant I got to go to the ward I grew up going to. It's had a lot changes over the years. Lot of people I grew up knowing have moved out and the boundaries have changed a lot so there were also people I knew from the stake growing up. It was fun to see everyone so excited to see my mom!

While I was away N8 stayed busy. The first 3 days he went to work while Bud was as school. Kim was gracious enough to watch Emma and Mo. N8 got the kids signed up for swimming lessons, went to the school open house, the park, worked outside in the yard & garden, went on a hike, helped cook at the ward Memorial Day breakfast and I'm sure a lot more!

I was a LONG drive home. A drive that usually takes us 7 hours took about 10 due to terrible traffic. Now there are only 2 more days of school and we have the entire summer to play, plan, craft, clean, swim, and sleep!

Father & Sons Campout

I'm a little behind, but last weekend was our annual father and sons campout. N8 missed out getting to go last year which also meant that Mo missed out going. With our crazy schedules this was M0's first camping trip! He didn't know it, but he was super excited too!
They did some awesome dutch oven cooking!

Bud and Mo got to camp together for the first time:

They slept in a tent:

Played some Frisbee:

And played in the water:

Emma was pretty distraught that she didn't get to go (two years ago we let her go, she had really short hair :))! We went to dinner and she got to watch a movie. Then the next day we took a shopping day down to Lancaster. She got to pick where we ate lunch. She still would rather go camping!! N8 has promised her that he will take her this summer.